AI and African Archives

Who owns the past, and who gets to decide how it is remembered? Across Africa, archives contain records of colonialism, resistance, migration, land dispossession, and everyday life, yet many remain difficult to access or are organized through systems created during colonial rule. At the same time, artificial intelligence is transforming how historical sources can be preserved, searched, interpreted, and shared. This course brings together African Studies, digital humanities, and technology to explore questions about access, governance, power, sovereignty, ethics, and representation. Working with scholars and community partners in South Africa, students will help design an AI-supported archival platform connected to historical records and contemporary land restitution efforts. No technical background is required. This class will meet in Building 80 Room114.